Background / General description--- THIS POSITION IS BASED IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA ---

The East Asia and Pacific Region presents a dramatic illustration of the global dynamics, opportunities and risks of the 21st century. After making the fastest progress in growth and poverty reduction of any region around the world in the last fifteen years, some countries in the region – such as Mongolia – are poised to become middle-income, and some are preparing to join the small group of high-income countries. Such a rapid transformation is leading to the largest shift in rural-to-urban population in human history, generating rising inequality within and across countries, leaving individuals and regions behind in the dash for prosperity. Meanwhile, the uncertainty in the advanced economies clouds the prospects for countries across the region which are being forced to adjust to changed growth and development prospects while addressing evolving impacts on macroeconomic stability, employment and poverty.

EAP comprises of more than 20 countries, including China, several MICs, LICs, and fragile states (EAP has the second highest number of fragile states amongst all the Bank regions). The Region is characterized by generally rapid growth, both sophisticated and low capacity borrowers, and some highly dynamic sectors. At the same time, EAP countries are faced with weak governance environments. The Bank's program in EAP is multi-faceted and has grown rapidly in recent years: lending in FY12 will have exceeded $8 billion; the portfolio consists of nearly 300 operations for about $30 billion; and the TF program is significant (with a portfolio of about $4.3 billion). EAP consists of about 800 staff with 20% in Washington and 80% based in the field offices in the six CMUs.

World Bank’s Indonesia program is one of its largest in the world with activities that include an active program of engagement with central economic ministries, community driven development, education and infrastructure. Lending is currently around US$2 billion a year distributed over a broad mix of program, sector and investment loans. In addition there are a large number of Trust Funds to support work in a range of sectors including education, investment, poverty and social protection. To support the Government policy agenda the mission also has a very large program of analytical and advisory activities (AAA) that is integrated into lending and technical assistance activities.

The World Bank is helping to strengthen national efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability by supporting the Government of Indonesia in making informed and evidence-based policy and program decisions. Support is channeled through the Partnership for Knowledge-based Poverty Reduction in three ways: i) providing poverty analytics and building analytical capacity to inform poverty and social protection policies, programs and strategies; ii) supporting the government in the design, implementation and evaluation of key poverty and social protection programs; and, iii) improving the quality and accessibility of data required for poverty analysis and policymaking. A multi-donor trust fund has been established to provide technical assistance and policy advice, carry out analytical work, and provides grants to non-government think tanks and research institutions.

Under this program, the World Bank has undertaken flagship research projects that are at the cutting-edge of global knowledge on poverty and social protection. Current projects – including a comprehensive research project on targeting social assistance and a public expenditure and program review of the social assistance sector – are being used by the Government of Indonesia to reform and re-design its social protection systems. At the same time, the team also conducts “rapid response” analysis to respond to immediate and pressing requests from government partners.

The program of work also has a strong focus on strengthening local institutions that contribute to evidence-based policymaking. The team works closely with analytical units in government agencies to improve their technical skills. At the same time, the team is turning more attention to strengthening local research institutes and think tanks so that they can provide independent and high quality analytical and assessment services to inform and monitor national poverty policy-making and program design. Capacity building activities will be a major focus of the team’s agenda in the upcoming years.

The Poverty Policy Specialist (Extended Term Consultant) will work as a part of the Poverty Cluster, part of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) network located in the World Bank Office Jakarta. The primary objective of the Specialist is to play a lead role in shaping and influencing Indonesia’s poverty reduction strategies and policies. He/she will also take a leading role in strengthening local capacities for policy formulation, implementation and assessment. He/she will report directly to the Task Team Leader (TTL) of the Poverty Cluster. The position will involve frequent interaction with government counterparts, universities, research think-tanks, other donor agencies, and counterparts within and across World Bank’s PREM network, both in Indonesia as well as other countries and regions.